Apparatus for softening shoes



Nov. 3,1925. Y l I 559,833

' A. YOUNG APPARATUS FOR SOFTENING SHOES Filed June 2, 1925 [77.706 rotor" You I by i M at Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED room or ivrrriroian, MASSACHUSETTS.

SOFTENING SHOES.

Application filed June 2, 1925. Serial No. 34,339.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED YOUNG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milford, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented new andv leather to stiffen and reinforce certain portions of the shoe, particularly the toe cap, and in order to properly last the shoe at the toe portion where it is necessary to wipe the materials comprising the toecap, toe box and lining over the toe portion of the last it is necessary to soften said materials, particularly the toe box, in order that they will be pliable and will not break or crack while undergoing the pressure and wiping action of the lastingjoperation,

It has been demonstrated that whereas live steam in direct contact with the shoe is often injurious, :yet nevertheless steam of a uniform temperature and tempered to such a degree as not to burn the leather is the most satisfactory heating medium that can be omployedfor softeningshoes, and it is an object, therefore, of this. invention to provide an apparatus of simple and practical construction in which steam maybe tempered to the correct degree-of tempera ture and humidity, said apparatus embodying therein a radiator, said steam enteringsaid radiator at the top thereof and passing downwardly therethrough and being ejected into a casing which encloses said radiator, said steam then passing upwardly between and around the sections of the radiator, and being discharged upon the portions of a shoe that require softening at a point adj acent to the top of the radiator.

The invention consists in an apparatus for softening shoes as set forth in the following specification and particularly 1 as pointed out in the claims thereof.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section throughvau apparatus for softening shoes embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the drawings, 5 represents a steam radiator embodying therein a top section 6, a plurality of intermediate sections 7 and bottom section 8, all of which are securely clamped together by bolts 9. The radiator sections 6, 7 and 8 are arranged horizontally, one above the other, and said sections are also positioned in staggered relation to each other laterally, alternate sections projecting a distance beyond the corresponding side of each adjacent section. The radiator sections 6, 7 and 8 have chambers 10,11 and 12 v respectively extending longitudinally therethrough and adjacent; chambers communicate with each other at one end of,

each chamberin such a manner as to form one continuous passage from the upper chamber 10 downwardly through the inter.-'

mediate chambers 11 to the bottom chamber 12. The radiator sect-ions6, 7 and 8 are furthermore spaced apart vertically, thereby providing passageways 13 therebetween,'said passageways extending for approximately the entire length of said sections. V

Surrounding the radiator 5 upon all sides is a casing 14 preferably constructed of sheet material, said casing being secured to the forwardly projecting radiator section's;

atthe front thereof, to the rearwardly pro.- jecting sections at the rear thereof and is in contact with all of said sections at each end thereof, andsaid casing, therefore, cooperates with said sections to form a bottomchamber 15, intermediate chambers 16 and a top chamber 17, said chambers being located one above the other and alternate chambers being located upon opposite sides of the radiator sections, and also upon'opposite, sides of-the interior'of the casing 14. The passageways-l3 communicate with the chambers upon the opposite sides thereof and co-operate with said chambers to form a continuous passageway from the bottom chamber 15 upwardly between and around the intermediate radiator sections 7. and into the top chamber 17 Located at the top of the casing lel and above the radiator is a hood 18, the latter being pivoted at 19 to said casing 14;. The hood 18 is utilized to deflect steam as it passes upwardly through the casing 14 and direct said steam against the portions of a shoe 20 that it is desired to soften, said shoe being in the process of construction and located upon a last 21. The inclination of the top of said hood may be varied as desired to deflect said steam against said shoe, being held in the various positions by thumb screws 22 which are located at the opposite ends of said hood.

The radiator 5 and casing ll may be of any suitable length, but preferably are of a sufficient length to accommodate several shoes and the latter are supported while being treated upon a shelfr23.

Steam enters the top radiator section (*5 at one end thereof through an inlet pipe 24, being controlled by a valve 25. The bottom radiator section 8 has a discharge pipe 26 leading from one end thereof, and said pipe extends into and the entire length of the lower chamber adjacent the bottom thereof. The portion of the pipe 26 within the chamber 15 is provided with a large number of small holes 2? through which steam from the bottom section of the radiator 5 is discharged into the casing 14. A drip pipe 28 is also provided at the bottom of the casing 1 1-.

The general operation of the apparatus hereinbefore specifically described is as follows :Shoes under construction and hav ing been subjected to the pulling over process upon the last 21 are placed side by side upon the shelf 23 with the toeportion there of projecting into the hood 18 above the radiator 5. Steam is admitted to the top section 6 of the radiator 5 being controlled by the valve 25 located in the steam inlet pipe 24, and said steam passes through the chamber 10 of the top radiator section, and from thence downwardly into and through the chambers 11 of the succeeding intermediate sections 7 into the chamber 12 of the bottom section 8 from which it passes through the pipe 26 and is discharged in small jets through the holes 27 into the lowermost chamber 15 of the casing 14. The steam then rises passing through the various chambers 16 and passageways 13, being discharged at the top of said casing 14 beneath the hood 18 against the toe portion of themshoe 20, and after said shoe has been eXpc-sedfo said steam for a suflicient length of time for said toe portion to be rendered pliable, the shoe is withdrawn from the apparatus and subjected to the lasting-operation without danger of injuring the toe portion of the shoe.

In passing downwardly through the radiator and then upwardly through the casing 1% between the various sections of the radi ator the temperature and humidity of the steam is tempered to such a degree that be such that it will quickly soften the various materials.

It is' evident that other portions of the shoe that may require softening before the shoe is lasted may be treated as hereinbefore mentioned if it is so desired.

1. An apparatus-for softening shoes comprising, in combination, a steam radiator embodying therein a plurality of communicating sections arranged in staggered relation to each other laterally, a casing enclosing said radiator and co-operating with the sections thereof to form chambers, the latter also being located in staggered relation to each other laterally, the lowermost section communicating with said easing at' the bottom thereof, there being passageways between said sections connecting said chambers together, and means 'to support a shoe in a position to be exposed to steam passing from said casing.

2. An apparatus for softening shoes comprising, in combination, a steam radiator embodying therein a plurality of' horizontally disposed sections located one above the other and in staggered relation to each other laterally, said sections communicat-.

ing with each other, a casing enclosing said radiator and co-operating with the sections thereof to form chambers, the latter being located alternately upon opposite sides of said sections, the lowermost section communicating with the interior of said casing at the bottom thereof, there being passageways between'said sections connecting said chambers together, and means to support a shoe in a position to be exposed to steam passing from said casing at the top thereof.

3. An apparatus for softening shoes comprising, in combination, a steam radiator embodying therein a plurality of horizontally disposed sections located one above the other and'in staggered relation to each other laterally, said sections communicating with each other, a casing enclosing said radiator and co-operating with the sections thereof to form chambers, the latter being located alternately upon opposite sides of said sec tions, the lowermost section communicating with the lowermost of said chambers, there being passageways between said sections connecting said chambers together, means to support a shoe in a position to be exposed to steam passing from said casing at the top thereof, and means at the top of said casing to deflect said steam against said shoe.

4. An apparatus for softening shoes comprising, in combination, a steam radiator embodying therein a plurality of horizontally disposed sections located one above the other and in staggered relation to each other laterally, said sections communicating with each other, a casing enclosing said radiator and co-operating with the sections thereof to form chambers, the latter being located alternately upon opposite sides of said sections, a pipe connecting the lowermost section of said radiator with the lowermost chamber Within said casing and discharging steam into said chamber, there be ing passageways between said sections connecting said chambers together, and means to support a shoe in a position to be exposed to steam passing from said casing at the top thereof.

5. An apparatus for softening shoes comprising, in combination, a steam radiator embodying therein a plurality of horizontally disposed sections located one above the other and in staggered relation to each other laterally, said sections communicating with ,sageways between said sections connecting said chambers together, means to support a shoe in a position to be exposed to steam passing from said casing at the top thereof, a hood pivotally attached to said casing at the top thereof, and means to adjust said hood relatively to said casing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALFRED YOUNG, 

